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EDISON, N.J., Aug. 27, 2010 – Sam’s Club opens in Edison Sept. 9 with additional services, an expanded merchandise selection, and a design that incorporates sustainability with a customer-friendly layout. Local business owners, college students and moms-on-the-go looking for ways to save in today’s economy will find exceptional values on products from electronics to fresh produce and $4 generic prescriptions.

More than 225 Club associates, along with community leaders and local dignitaries, will celebrate the official grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 9. Doors will open to Members at 8:30 a.m.

Originally opened in 1993 at 290 Route 18 North in East Brunswick, N.J., the 141,989-square-foot club will be located at 939 Route 1 South in Edison. The Club is the first business to open in the new 102-acre Edison Towne Square development at the site of the former Ford Motors plant. As part of its relocation, the Club has gained an additional 11,000 square feet.

Local leaders are excited about the ongoing revitalization of the site and adding Sam’s Club to the mix of area businesses. Edison Mayor Antonia Ricigliano said, “We are happy to welcome Sam’s Club to Edison Township. The Club’s opening is the first step in what promises to be a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the retailer and the site’s developer, Hartz Mountain. This collaboration will have a positive impact on many of our residents through new jobs and increased tax revenues.”

Edison Sam’s Club: Exceptional Value for Business, Home and Life

The Club will feature a wide variety of merchandise that reflects the growing diversity among warehouse club shoppers.

“More and more people turn to Sam’s Club to help them save money in this tight economy,” said club manager Rocco Capuano. “Small-business owners, families and even college students are finding that their money goes further here.”

Constructed with environmentally friendly materials and energy-efficient fixtures, the Club offers Members a pharmacy featuring $4 and $10 generic prescriptions as well as great deals on branded prescriptions, an optical department and a digital photo center. In addition to its fresh produce and frozen foods, the Club offers freshly baked breads and pastries and a deli department with rotisserie chicken, ribs and freshly prepared meals. A liquor store, to be located near the Club entrance, will be accessible for Members and non-members. A fuel station and tire and battery installation services help drivers save money while maintaining their vehicles. A Home Efficiency Center focuses on merchandise customers can use to decrease their home and business energy usage, such as CFL light bulbs, LED light fixtures, Energy Star® air conditioning units and small kitchen appliances.

“We offer the office supplies, food and cleaning items that Sam’s Club Members have come to expect,” said Capuaano. “We also offer the latest technology for home and office, outdoor furniture, designer handbags and high quality jewelry.”

Just in time for back-to-school savings, the Club’s affordable room and dorm furnishings, electronics and apparel will appeal to area college students, who can take advantage of a $15 gift card when they sign-up for a new Collegiate Membership. Each Collegiate Membership comes with a complimentary add-on card, so roommates or housemates can share savings as well as shopping duties. (Editor’s Note: For more information about the types of Sam’s Club Memberships that are available, go to SamsClub.com.)

Sam’s Club Membership provides superior access to merchandise and services for the business owner, homeowner or college student seeking the best value all under one roof. Small business owners and operators will also have access to additional services to help increase productivity and profitability including health insurance solutions, merchant and credit card processing, marketing solutions and numerous other benefits for their business provided by third party vendors.

Club to Employ 225 Associates

The Club plans to employ approximately 225 associates, including approximately 50 new positions created by the relocation. Nineteen associates have worked for Sam’s Club or Walmart for more than 10 years. Three associates – Ceil Lopresti, Deanna Clausen and Maureen Pranio -- have worked at Sam’s Club since it opened in East Brunswick in 1993. Club manager Capuano started his career with Sam’s Club as part of the management team at the Princeton, N.J., location in 1999.

Sam’s Club Celebrates Community Commitment

As part of the Sam’s Club commitment to give back to the communities it serves, associates from the Edison Club have selected several local organizations to receive a total of $10,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation, including City of Edison Fire, Rescue and Emergency; Edison Township Police Department; Edison Public Library Foundation; Edison Sheltered Workshop; Edison Township Public Schools and Edison Youth Services. Other recipients include American Legion (Post #214), Hands of Hope for the Community, Middlesex Chamber of Commerce and the Edison Chamber of Commerce.

The newly relocated Sam’s Club also fights hunger in the area by making regular product donations to Community FoodBank of New Jersey. The program is part of a partnership between Sam’s Club and Feeding America. Sam’s Club locations across the country regularly donate perishable food items to area hunger relief agencies, helping fight hunger in their communities and reducing food waste. Last year, Sam’s Club donated more than 13 million pounds to Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief charity.

Savings Made Simple with eValues

eValues is a new membership benefit program for Plus Members and provides personalized savings on hundreds of items including fresh foods, health and beauty products and office supplies, as well as other goods and services available at Sam’s Club locations.

There are no coupons to clip and no rebate forms to complete and mail with eValues. Sam’s Club Plus Members will receive customized offers tailored to them and discounts will be automatically taken at the register using their existing membership cards.

The eValues benefit is included in both the Advantage and Business versions of the Sam’s Club Plus® Membership; both cost $100 annually. Sam’s Club estimates Plus Members will save more than $300 per year with eValues.

Sam’s Club Commitment to Sustainability

In keeping with the Sam’s Club commitment to the environment, the new Club was constructed with energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste.

One of the ways the new Sam’s Club eliminates energy waste is with daylight-harvesting skylights that reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily. While Sam’s Club is not open 24-hours, it is occupied 24-hours a day. During the hours when the store is closed, the light level is reduced by more than 50 percent, also reducing energy levels used. LED lighting throughout the Club, including in the cooler/freezer box doors and jewelry counter, operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent light.

Join the Conversation Online

Sam’s Club now offers unique ways for Members to engage with each other and receive information. Twitter and Facebook users can get the latest news and hot items of the day by following or becoming a fan of Sam’s Club. To find Sam’s Club on Facebook, go to facebook.com/samsclub. Tweeters can follow @samsclub and @samsclubdeals to stay up-to-date.